Video broadcast system and a method of disseminating video content

ABSTRACT

A method and system for distributing video content across a distributed network is described. The system comprises a first device having video data provided thereon. A first application is operable on the first device and is configured for associating control data with the video data, wherein the control data contains information for creating auxiliary data which is to be presented with the video data subsequent to the video data being broadcast to one or more second devices across the network. A control centre is in communication with the first application for receiving the video data and the associated control data from the first device. The control centre is operable to broadcast the video data and the associated control data to one or more second devices. A media player is provided on the respective second devices which is operable in response to reading the control data to create the auxiliary data on the respective second device. The media player is operable to launch the auxiliary data while the media player is playing the video data.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a U.S. Continuation patent application,claiming priority to U.S. Ser. No. 15/037,237, filed on 17 May 2016;which is a National Phase 371 filing of PCT/EP2014/074884, filed on 18Nov. 2014; which claims priority to UK 1320343.5, filed on 18 Nov. 2013,the entirety of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present teaching relates to a video broadcast system and a method ofdisseminating video content. In particular, the present teaching isdirected to a system and method for broadcasting video content across anetwork along with control data specifying effects which are to beapplied to the video content in real-time as the video is being played.

BACKGROUND

Video broadcast has become more prevalent in recent years with thedelivery of video and digital content to smart devices becoming evenmore widespread. On smart devices, video is currently viewed using awide variety of applications, either via a locally installed applicationon the smart device itself or directly via the internet. However, theseexisting video broadcast systems have demonstrated various shortcomingswhen used in conjunction with viewing videos containing high qualitygraphics and special effects on smart devices. For instance, in orderfor a video to have high quality graphics and special effects, the videofile must be in a suitably high quality resolution. The downloading ofthis sizable high resolution video to view on a smart device oftencauses the video to stutter or stop playback where the rate of playbackhas exceeded the rate at which the video is being downloaded. Inaddition, as this high resolution video content has a large volume, itsstorage and transmission costs are a consideration, even with the databeing compressed for both storage and upload/download. In otherinstances, lesser quality video is created for viewing on smart deviceswhich does not require a lot of buffering; however, in this case thevideo resolution is reduced and therefore the resolution of the graphicsand special effects incorporated into the single video file are of adiminished quality.

There is therefore a need for a video broadcast system and a method ofdisseminating video content which addresses at least some of thedrawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present teaching relates to a method for distributingvideo content across a distributed network as detailed in claim 1.Furthermore, the present teaching relates to a system for distributingvideo content as detailed in claim 45. Advantageous embodiments aredetailed in the subsidiary claims.

In one aspect there is provided a method for distributing video contentacross a network; the method comprising:

providing video data on a first device,

associating control data with the video data on the first device;wherein the control data contains information for creating auxiliarydata,

broadcasting the video data and control data to one or more seconddevices across the network,

providing a media player on the respective second devices which isoperable in response to reading the control data to create the auxiliarydata locally on the respective second devices, and

launching the auxiliary data while the media player is playing the videodata.

In another aspect, the control data comprises machine executableinstructions encapsulated by tags. Advantageously, the control datacomprises meta data. In one example, the control data comprises machinereadable mark-up language.

In a further aspect, the auxiliary data comprises at least one displaysegment. Advantageously, the auxiliary data comprises a plurality ofdisplay segments.

In one aspect, the media player performs a calculation to determinebuffering time required for the video data to be downloaded to therespective second devices.

In another aspect, the calculated buffering time is incorporated intothe control data received by the respective second devices.

In one aspect, the video data comprises at least one video section.Advantageously, the control data comprises machine readable instructionsdetailing how the at least one display segment is to be displayed withrespect to the at least one video section.

In a further aspect, the period for displaying the at least one displaysegment is determined by the buffering time incorporated into thecontrol data. Advantageously, the period for displaying the at least onedisplay segment is proportional to the buffering time incorporated intothe control data. In one example, the period for displaying the at leastone display segment is associated with the buffering time incorporatedinto the control data such that the at least one display segment and theat least one video section are displayed sequentially without a timedelay interruption there between.

In another aspect, the control data comprises machine readableinstructions detailing how a plurality of display segments are to bedisplayed with respect to a plurality of video sections.

In one aspect, the combined period for displaying a plurality of displaysegments is set by the buffering time. In another example, the periodfor displaying at least one display segment is varied in response to thecalculated buffering time. In one arrangement, the period for displayingtwo or more display segments are varied in response to the calculatedbuffering time.

In a further aspect, each video section corresponds to a particularvideo selected by the user on the first device.

In one aspect, the media player on the respective second devices isoperable in response to reading the control data to initiate a fetchprocess for retrieving data. In one example, the data which is fetchedis stored locally on the second device. In another example, the datawhich is fetched is at a location remote of the second device. In anexemplary arrangement, the fetched data contains computer readableinstructions. Advantageously, the computer readable instructions includeinstructions to implement a specified effect. In one example, thefetched data is pre-stored on the second device. In an alternativeexample, the fetched data is used to creatre a specified effect.

In another aspect, a first database is provided on the first device forstoring the control data.

In one aspect, a second database is provided on the respective seconddevice for storing data elements which are referenced in the controldata.

In another aspect, the control data includes instructions for applyingat least one specified effect, a graphic, text data, a special effect,or audio data to the video data when the video data is being played onthe media player on the respective second devices.

In a further aspect, a first user interface is provided on the firstdevice for facilitating a user selecting the control data to beassociated with the video data.

In one aspect, the control data associated with the video data issynchronised with the video data on the first device. Advantageously, adata structure is generated on the first device containing the videodata and the associated control data. In one example, the control dataassociated with the video data is synchronised with the video data on asecond device with synced video data from the first device.

In another aspect, the first device is configured to transmit the datastructure to a control centre. Advantageously, the control centre isconfigured for communicating the data structure to the one or moresecond devices.

In one aspect, the control centre is operable for modifying the controldata associated with the video data. Advantageously, the control centreis operable to approve or disapprove the video data in advance ofbroadcasting.

In another aspect, the media player is configured to read the datastructure. Advantageously, a remote device is in communication with thecontrol centre for facilitating remote approval of the video data andassociated control data.

In one arrangement, the control data comprises one or more tags forfacilitating searching by a search engine.

In a further aspect, the control data comprises a plurality of controlparameters which represent corresponding effects.

In one aspect, one or more of the control parameters are selectable onthe first device.

In a further aspect, the selected one or more control parameters on thefirst device are associated with the video data such that the one ormore control parameters are applied by the media player as it is beingplayed on the respective second devices.

In one aspect, the video data is captured on the first device using anin-built camera.

In another aspect, the video data is received at the first device via anetwork.

In one arrangement, wherein the media player is configured to create andlayer specified effects linked to the control data onto the video data.

In a further aspect, wherein the control centre is configured to providea user profile for each second device.

In one aspect, the control centre is operable to modify the control dataassociated with the video data for delivery to a particular seconddevice based on the user profile.

In a further aspect, a template is provided on the first device forfacilitating the placing of a video subject within a template.

In one aspect, the network bandwidth of the respective second devicesare monitored such that a video resolution is selected for broadcastingbased upon the available network bandwidth.

The present disclosure also relates to a system for distributing videocontent; the system comprising:

a first device having video data provided thereon,

a first application operable on the first device and being configuredfor associating control data with the video data, wherein the controldata contains information for creating auxiliary data which is to bepresented with the video data subsequent to the video data beingbroadcast to one or more second devices across the network;

a control centre in communication with the first application forreceiving the video data and the associated control data from the firstdevice, the control centre being operable to broadcast the video dataand the associated control data to one or more second devices, and amedia player being provided on the respective second devices which isoperable in response to reading the control data to create the auxiliarydata on the respective second device; the media player being operable tolaunch the auxiliary data while the media player is playing the videodata.

The present disclosure also relates to a media player operable forplaying video data on a portable device, the player comprising:

a means for receiving video data and associated control data,

a means for reading the control data,

a means for creating auxiliary data on the portable device based on thecontrol data, and

a means for launching the auxiliary data while the video data isplaying.

Additionally, the present disclosure relates to a computer readablemedium comprising a data carrier having encoded thereon machine readableinstructions which, when executed in a computerised system implements amethod for distributing video content across a network; the methodcomprising:

providing video data on a first device,

associating control data with the video data on the first device;wherein the control data contains information for creating auxiliarydata,

broadcasting the video data and control data to one or more seconddevices across the network,

providing a media player on the respective second devices which isoperable in response to reading the control data to create the auxiliarydata locally on the respective second devices, and

launching the auxiliary data while the media player is playing the videodata.

In one aspect there is provided a method for distributing video contentacross a distributed network; the method comprising

providing video data on a first device,

associating control data with the video data on the first device forspecifying effects to be applied to the video data subsequent to thevideo data being broadcast to one or more second devices across thenetwork,

providing a media player on the respective second devices which isoperable in response to reading the control to initiate a fetch process.

In one aspect, a template is provided on the first device.Advantageously, the template contains a designated minimal resolutionarea where the video data is inserted. In one example the minimalresolution area is layered with the video data. Advantageously, thevideo data has a lower resolution than the auxiliary data. In oneexample, the auxiliary data has a high definition (HD) resolution. Inanother example, the video data has a standard definition (SD) videoresolution.

In one aspect, the majority of the visual display on the second deviceis occupied by the auxiliary data while the video data occupies arelatively small portion of the visual display on the second devicethereby providing an overall visual impression that the output from themedia player is of HD resolution.

In an exemplary arrangement, the video data is inserted into an area ofthe auxiliary data such that the auxiliary data and the video appearintegrated.

In another aspect, the network bandwidth of the respective seconddevices are monitored such that a video resolution is selected forbroadcasting based upon the available network bandwidth. Advantageously,video that is subject to a lower bandwidth will be displayed withbandwidth restrictions applied within a video broadcast. Advantageously,the layered specified effects are not subject to bandwidth issues and asa result remain at full HD resolution. Advantageously, a full framebroadcast under bandwidth restrictions may reduce the quality of thevideo but the percentage of frame that is of HD quality remains greaterthan the bandwidth restriction applied.

These and other features will be better understood with reference to thefollowings Figures which are provided to assist in an understanding ofthe present teaching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present teaching will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for distributing video contentacross a distributed network in accordance with the present teaching.

FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of a data structure which isbroadcast using the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a software application whichis operable to read the data structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic representation of another software applicationwhich is operable to generate the data structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic representation of a detail of the system ofFIG. 1

FIG. 4C is a diagrammatic representation of a detail of the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4D is a diagrammatic representation of a detail of the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4E is a diagrammatic representation of a detail of the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for uploading videocontent to the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for implementing thelayering of specified effects onto video content by a media player whichis also in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation illustrating how the multi-layereddata structure is produced by a media player.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the layering of specifiedeffects onto downloaded video content produced by a media player.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a template.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of video data being down loadedto a client device.

FIG. 11A is a flow chart illustrating the steps for providing a seamlessbroadcast of multiple videos.

FIG. 11B is a continuation of the flow chart of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of a seamless broadcast ofmultiple videos with auxiliary data segments.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment whichfacilitates live editing of content.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment whichfacilitates local live editing of content.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment whichfacilitates broadcasting from multiple sources.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment whichfacilitates dual presentations.

FIG. 17 is a screen shot illustrating an exemplary display output fromthe media player.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present teaching will now be described with reference to anexemplary video broadcast system. It will be understood that theexemplary broadcast system is provided to assist in an understanding ofthe present teaching and is not to be construed as limiting in anyfashion. Furthermore, modules or elements that are described withreference to any one Figure may be interchanged with those of otherFigures or other equivalent elements without departing from the spiritof the present teaching.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is provided a video broadcastsystem 10 which facilitates individual users to create videos onportable handheld devices such as a tablet 15, and then send the videoto a control centre 20, via a network 30, from which other users candownload to their tablets 25 or similar handheld devices. The user whocreates the video on the tablet 15 are able to add auxiliary data suchas effects to the captured video but when the data is being transmittedacross a network 30 only the raw video data is sent together with somecontrol information in the form of metadata. The auxiliary data whichare added by the user on the tablet 15 may include, for example,graphics, customisable text overlays, special effects, audio, etc. Whenthe video is downloaded to the tablets 25 the auxiliary data/specifiedeffects which are linked to the metadata are recreated assembled andbuilt by the mediaplayer on the tablets 25. The specified effects arethen overlaid onto the video on the tablets 25 giving the appearance ofa flattened single high quality video file. It will therefore beappreciated that the specified effects are applied to the video afterthe tablets 25 have downloaded the video from the control centre 20.Therefore when a user downloads a video created by another using thevideo broadcast system 10, the downloaded raw video data is accompaniedby the appropriate control information in the form of metadata, whichcontrols a media player on the tablets 25 to play the video togetherwith the creator's intended special effects. In this way the volume ofdata transmitted across the network 30 is reduced.

Traditionally, the specified effects/auxiliary data would have beenapplied in advance of the video being transmitted from the creator byfundamentally altering the raw video data by inserting graphics andspecial effects through editing and rendering thereby creating a singleflattened video file. This single flattened video file containing thehigh quality graphics and special effects would then be transmittedacross the network requiring a relatively high band width. Alternativelythis single flattened video file may be compressed/transcoded fortransmission across the network; however, this compression/transcodingresults in increased pixalation due to a reduction of the data size andresults in lower quality graphics and special effects. The currentbroadcast system, due to its multilayering methodologies, allows thevideo data to be compressed/transcoded allowing for more rapidtransmission across the network. However, the graphics and specialeffects are applied post broadcasting as they are created, built andassembled on the smart devices via the multi layer media player therebymaintaining a higher quality under lower bandwidth availability than thetraditional method described above.

In an exemplary embodiment, an first application 31 resides on thetablet 15 and may be employed by a user to add specified effects tovideo data. In the example, the first application 31 accesses a database100 from which the user can select video, audio, image and graphics andwhere the user can select specified effects. A metadata content agent101 is configured to link the specified effects which are selected bythe user to the video content by way of associated metadata. A syncprocessing agent 103 is operable to synchronise the specified effectselected by the user with the raw video data so that the specifiedeffects are applied to the video at the particular times selected by theuser. A multi-layer media creation player 104 is configured to generatea data structure 32 comprising video data and the control data. Themedia player which is installed on the remote tablets 25 is operable toread the data structure 32 so that when the video is playing thespecified effects are applied at the appropriate times. An exemplarydata structure 32 is illustrated in FIG. 2 which includes twocomponents, namely, a video data component 33 containing raw video datacaptured by the user, and a control data component 35 containingmetadata which associates the specified effects selected by the userwith the raw video data. At the request of a user, the first application31 instructs the tablet 15 to transmit the data structure 32 to thecontrol centre 20. A media player 126 is installed on the remote tablets25 which is configured to read the data structure 32 downloaded from thecontrol centre 20. The specified effects that are associated with thecontrol data 35 are then created and layered on the tablets 25 by themedia player 126 and applied to the raw video data 33 as the video isbeing played. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in theart that within the video broadcast system 10 the video remains as rawvideo, in other words, as a video data without attached graphic(s) orspecial effects. When the video is viewed by an end-user the tablet 25synchronously creates the correct high quality graphics, text andspecial effects via the media player 126. These effects are thenoverlaid by the multi-layer media player on the respective requiringtablets 25 onto the raw video giving the appearance of a single highquality video file.

The video which was transmitted from the tablet 15 may undergo anapproval process in advance of being broadcast to the end users.Furthermore, the control centre 20 may alter the associated control dataidentifying the specified effects to be applied to the raw video data ifdesired. In one arrangement, an optional function is provided within theconrol centre 20 whereby the video and its associated metadata are sentto a designated authorised remote device 37 for remote approval. Anapproval application 40 is installed on the remote device 37 which isconfigured to allow a user to interact with the the device 37 in orderto approve or disapprove the video content and/or the associated controldata. It will therefore be appreciated that the video may be approvedeither by the control centre 20 or via the remote device 37 prior tobeing broadcast to the tablets 25. When the approved video is beingviewed on the tablets 25 a second application 52 executing thereoncreates the specified effects locally on the device. The secondapplication 52 determines which specified effects to create locally onthe tablet 25 and if required which to fetch from the local databasesuch as a virtual sets, branded graphic layers etc, based on the contentof the metadata in the data structure 32. The special effects are thenlayered onto the video by the media player 126 giving the appearance ofa single high quality video file. Thus is will be appreciated that afetch process may be initiated to retrieve data either locally stored onthe second device or remotely thereof. In one example, the fetch processcreate specified effects in realtime and fetches any assets that may beassociated with that specified effect as instructed by the control data.

The synchronisation process facilitates raw video data to be transmittedquickly and unimpeded through the network 30 along with the associatedcontrol data that stipulates, the high quality graphics, text and/orspecial effects to be simultaneously overlaid onto the raw video datawhen viewed by the end user using the media player 126 on the tablets25. Traditionally, graphics and special effects are created withpowerful editing suites, which typically requires a process offlattening the graphics, via rendering, and exporting them as a largesingle video file. By recreating the specified effects/auxiliary datalocally and by storing some graphics and images locally on each user'stablet 25, the video broadcast system 10 eliminates the requirement ofgoing through this rendering process. Furthermore, as only the raw videodata and associated metadata are being stored and transmitted throughthe network 30, the speed and costs of producing and broadcasting highquality professional-looking video with high quality graphics andspecial effects broadcasting is minimised. The network 30 may be anysuitable telecommunications network such as, but not limited to, theworld wide web, internet, intranet, mobile phone network, or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4E which illustrates an exemplary architecturefor the video broadcast system 10. The flow of data between therespective entities in the distributed network are indicated by arrowsA, B, C, D, E, and F in FIGS. 4A-4E. In the exemplary arrangement, thevideo broadcast system 10 includes four modules, namely, a first module;a second module; a third module; and a fourth module. The first moduleincludes the tablet 15 with a camera and the first application 31installed in order to enable a user to create a video, select highquality graphics, text and/or special effects to be simultaneouslyoverlaid onto the video, synced and then to upload the video andassociated metadata to the network 30.

The second module is provided as part of the control centre 30. In theexemplary arrangement, the control centre 30 may include a cloud and/ora local server architecture. In the exemplary arrangement, a network 42is incorporated within the control centre 30. The network 42 issub-divided into two distinct spaces, namely, the control centre network44 and a broadcast network 46. The second module is where theuser-generated video content is uploaded and stored, and then downloadedto the tablets 25.

The third module includes a control centre application 48, which allowsincoming user-generated video to be reviewed and approved remotely andthen synced to play on end users' tablets 25 with the specified highquality graphic(s), text and/or special effects and other variousmetadata fields to be extracted from the local metadata database andsynchronously overlaid onto the downloaded video content to give theappearance of a single file. There is also an optional function wherebyvideo and its associated metadata may be sent to a remote device 37,accessible only by designated authorised users, to allow for remotereview and approval of media. Once the approval and synchronisationprocesses are complete, the control centre network 44 broadcasts thevideo content to end users' tablets 25 via the broadcast network 46.

The fourth module includes the second application 52 installed onto eachuser's tablet 25. As indicated above, the second application 52 containsthe multi-layered media player 126 and an extensive database of highquality graphics, such as virtual sets, logos, branded graphics storedlocally on the tablet 25, which will be utilised by the multi-layermedia player 126 to enable the layering of specified effects ontodownloaded video content as approved and authorised by the controlcontrol centre 48. Within the media player 126, the raw video data isplayed and the recreation and layering of the specified effects issynchronously done using the multi-layer media player 126. The qualitystandard of effects and graphics are equivalent to professionalstudio-editing suite effects. The media player 126 in the exemplaryarrangement includes a first means for receiving video data andassociated control data, a second means for reading the control data, athird means for creating and/or extracting specified data from adatabase on the portable device based on the control data, and a fourthmeans for layering the recreated effects and/or the extracted specifieddata onto the video data in accordance with the control data as thevideo data is being played.

When a video is viewed on an end-user's tablet 25, the graphics, textand/or special effects that are recreated and/or extracted from thelocal database and overlaid onto the video are those that have beenapproved and designated by the control control centre 48 and/or theremote approval application 40 of a designated authorised user. Thisgives personnel who are authorised to operate the control centre and/orapprove media via the remote approval second application 40 additionalflexibility in remotely controlling and changing the graphics, specialeffects and/or text of an already published video. This may be done bychanging the associated metadata, for example.

The second module acts as the hub through which all video content andassociated metadata is received from a user's first application 31. Theuploaded video is accessed, approved and synced by the control centreapplication 48 via the control centre network 44 and then published bythe control centre application to the broadcast network 46. The video isdistributed to the second application 52 for viewing by authorised endusers. Access to the local secure network 42 may be restricted to thecontrol centre application 48 or the remote approval application 40 ofdesignated authorised users only.

The control centre application 48 may contain a database 105 for storingincoming content/video. A content approval process 106 is provided forapproving the video content in advance of publishing. A metadataapproval processing server 107 is provided for approving the metadata. Arecipient selector 108 is provided for selecting which tablets 25 totransmit the video content to. A schedule publication server 109 isprovided for scheduling publication of the video content. The controlcentre application 48 may also include a graphic layer server 110, avideo server 111, a news banner server 112, a picture/image search layerserver 113, a delivery/storage/transcoding module 114, an individualprofile server 115, and a sync processing module 117, as describedbelow. A media player 116 is also provided which comprises a multi-layermedia creation player and a multi-layer media viewing player.

In the exemplary arrangement, the control centre application 48 mayreceive the upload of user-generated video and associated metadata, viathe control centre network 44, which includes the metadata thatidentifies the original user's choice of specified effects for overlayonto the video. This data is then stored in the database 105. Within thecontrol centre application 48 a content approval process may occur usingthe content approval processing module 106 by which authorised personnelmay approve the user-generated video content for publication. Thecontent approval processing module 106 provides the ability to editcontent if so required prior to broadcasting. The metadata approvalprocessing server 107 provides the ability to approve the metadata forall specified effects layers and the text for any selectedgraphic(s)/special effects. In the exemplary arrangement of the videobroadcast system 10, it is the control centre application 48 whichcarries out the approval process, with the control centre network 44acting as a conduit through which the data is stored and transmitted.However, it is envisaged that this approval process may be implementedin the cloud itself rather than on an application.

The recipient selector 108 facilitates designation of the end users whowill receive or have access to the particular downloadable videocontent. The recipient selector 108 also communicates with the metadataapproval processing server 107 and the individual profile server 115 asindividual user-specific changes may need to be made to thegraphic(s)/special effects metadata and/or the text metadata displayedon some end-user's tablets 25. For example, this would be the case wherea video was being broadcast to a number of different countries; in thisinstance a parameter may be set that could layer the text to bedisplayed on-screen in each user's native language. Another example,would be where a user with eyesight impairment needs larger fontdisplayed on-screen etc. This user-specific customisation process willbe automated once the personal profile of an individual user has beencustomised and registered with the individual profile server 115.

Once the user-generated video and associated metadata has gone throughthe approval process, the schedule publication server 109 may publishthe approved video content onto the broadcast network 46 at a designatedpoint in time. The graphic layer server 110 will sync the user-generatedvideo with the original user's choice of specified effects for overlay.The control centre's video server 111 registers each video to bebroadcast, with each video also being registered with a video agent 128located on each user's tablet 25 when requested and played on the enduser's tablet 25.

For regulatory and reporting purposes, a digital footprint is assignedto each user on the video broadcast system 10. This digital footprintindicates which videos and/or content the user has viewed/commentedupon, for example. In essence, each individual user has a specific agentidentified uniquely to them, which is stored on the individual profileserver 115. The news banner server 112 will provide a text feed, againstored locally on a user's tablet 25 in a graphic layer agent 129, tosuperimpose news reel-style banners, for example, ticker tape newsbanners onto videos. These ticker tape news banners will run text andgraphic(s) metadata received directly from the control centreapplication 48 and/or the remote approval application 40 of a designatedauthorised user. In the exemplary arrangement, there are three differenttypes of ticker tape news banners: a general news banner forcompany-wide news (the “General Feed”); a department specific newsbanner (the “Departmental Feed”); and, a user-specific news banner (the“User-specific Feed”). The general feed will be the same for all usersacross the company's network. The departmental feed will containspecific information based on the various departments or work categorieswithin the company. The user-specific banner will be tailored to eachindividual user in accordance with their personal profile as registeredand customised within the individual profile server 115. This news feedwill emanate from the control centre application 48 and/or the remoteapproval application 40, but will also extract and incorporate any ofthe user's own reminders and notifications that are stored locally intheir planner on their own tablet 25.

Once a user has created a video using the first application 31 they maythen wish to choose a particular type of special effect such as apicture-in-picture (“PIP”), this process allows one video to bedisplayed on the mobile device as full screen whilst at the same time anadditional video clip/image may be displayed in an inset windowon-screen. They are able to search the Video/Audio/Image/GraphicDatabase located within the broadcast network 46 for suitable images forinsertion into their selected PIP special effect to give their video aprofessional-looking appearance, or alternatively upload a new image,audio, graphic to be used. The metadata associated with the image chosenby the user will then be downloaded from the broadcast network to thecontrol centre network 44 along with the user-generated video and otherassociated metadata. The picture/image search layer server 113 locatedwithin the control centre application 48 is operable for syncing thisdata taken from the database located within the broadcast network 46.The user-generated video content, associated metadata and accompanyingimage(s) then all get synced in the control centre application 48 viathe sync processing module 117 to create a final high quality videocomplete with synced layered images and specified effects. This wholeinteraction with the broadcast server will occur whenever archiveapproved media such as a picture, audio, a graphic representation of adocument PDF, png etc is to be incorporated as part of a new piece ofbroadcast content.

The video broadcast system 10 may use a contextual search engine toidentify suitable content. One example would be to locate images foroverlay onto the user-generated video. The image and its associatedmetadata are stored in the secure broadcast network 46 and areretrievable using defined search parameters. The way in which images(metadata) and text (metadata) are overlaid on a user-generated video isthrough the use of defined template parameters, which control how themulti-layer media player create, display and animate/manipulate theimagery/graphic(s). For example, these automate the positioning andlength of each image plus the length of time for which it is displayed,all of which is approved and controlled by the control centreapplication 48. An example of such a parameter can be seen in thepicture-in-picture (“PIP”) proportioned scaling factor (“PSF”) describedbelow. The PIP feature, is where one video may be displayed on thetablet 25 as full screen and at the same time an additional video clipor an image is displayed in an inset window, this is done using alphacompositing. Through the use of a number of scripted equations, thevideo broadcast system 10 extracts the ratio between width of the sourceclip and the first PIP clip and multiplies it with the scale factor ofthe first PIP to output the final scale factor to be applied to the newone. In other words, the workflow scales up or down the PIP clipsdepending on their relative size to the first PIP clip composed and thescale factor applied to it. Once this proportioned scaling operation hasbeen done, it lets the user position the PIP clip and add an offsetcorrection parameter to fill up any black areas as result of formatdiscrepancies.

The following is an example of how the proportioned scaling factor(“PSF”) is produced:

PSF=1^(st)PIP Scale×(Width ratio+offset)

1^(st) PIP clip Scale=0.71^(st) PIP clip width=720src PIP clip width=1.280Width ratio=720/1280=0.5625 offset=0.097 (user defined)

PSF=0.7×(0.5625+0.097)=0.46165

There are three lines of information that feed each graphic for thesubsequent PIP clips: (i) the clip's own width; (ii) the first PIPclip's width; and (iii) the scale factor applied to the first PIP clip(i.e. 0.7 would be 70 pc of the original size). This model may beextended to address other geometrical issues and reformatting options.

The user prior to uploading a video will be guided through a PIPinsertion process, whereby the raw video data (i.e. the full screenclip) will be replayed and the user will select the image(s) and anyother graphics, text or metadata to be inserted at various points alongthe full screen video when it is played, and these specified insertionpoints become part of the metadata, letting the video broadcast system10 know when the selected image is to be displayed. The control centreapplication 48 will approve the final video prior to publication whichsimultaneously will make the individual graphics, special effects andcustomised text available in the broadcast network 46, and the end useron viewing the approved product will download the video and theassociated metadata identifying the selected images, which will both besynchronously displayed within the multi-layer media viewing player 126at the correct moment on the timeline.

Exemplary templates are employed by the video broadcast system 10, todeliver High Definition quality video's and video broadcasts at afraction of the file size, it will be appreciated that viewing HDbroadcast content using the video broadcast system 10 will improve thedownload and upload speeds and bandwidth requirements to view and uploadan equivalent 1920×1080(HD) video or an equivalent of any otherresolution size. An example is illustrated in FIG. 9, which are designedto act as a guide for the placing of subjects on-screen, for example, agreen screen template that can be used to capture a subject sitting at anews desk whilst filming 401. Advantageously, these unique templateshave a designated minimal capturing resolution area 402. This area iswhat is sent and used as the video data within the video broadcastsystem 10; this area only requires chroma keying. As a result, there isa minimal area requiring chroma keying 403 in order for laying the twoimage(s)/video streams together which, also leads to reduced renderingtimes to perform the real time chroma keying process in the tablets 25.As the video subject 404 is only a portion of the full screen whenviewed using the media player 126, the video broadcast system 10uniquely only captures the minimal area resolution 402 required todisplay the video subject within the chosen full screen template 401(and not the full screen), resulting in a smaller file size for thevideo. This smaller video is then composed over a high qualitybackground layer image(s)/templates 401, stored locally within thetablet's local database, which sets the frame size for the finalproduced video, resulting in a full High Definition 1920×1080(HD) videobroadcast at a fraction of the file size. It will be appreciated thatthis high quality background image/template can itself be amulti-layered composition with additional video/image layers 405.

Each template may be custom-made with unique animation key frames,movements and specific effects, for example, a newsroom template 401containing an alpha channel can be used to place and compose a subjectmatter such as a person within the graphic. These templates are designedin such a way that the graphic layers, text and special effects can bechanged remotely by the control centre application 48 by changing theassociated metadata.

A transcoding module 114 implements the process by which the approveduploaded video content and associated metadata is, prior to finalbroadcasting, stored locally at its source resolution as a back up, itwill then be transcoded, if required, either within the transcodingmodule 114, or transcoding will occur automatically after the video isuploaded to the broadcast network 46 via the transcoding architecturelocated within the broadcast network 46.

In one embodiment, the remote approval application 40 of a designatedauthorised user may receive the upload of the user-generated video andassociated metadata which includes the metadata that identifies theoriginal user's specified effects for overlay onto the video via thecontrol centre network 44, this being stored in the remote approvalapplication's database's incoming data 118. Within the remote approvalapplication 40 a content approval process may occur using a contentapproval processing module 119 by which the designated authorised usermay approve the user-generated video content for publication. Inaddition, the remote approval application 40 contains a metadataapproval processing server 120, which approves the metadata for allspecified effects layers and the text for any selectedgraphic(s)/special effects. The recipient selector 121 within the remoteapproval application 40 facilitates designation of the end users whowill receive or have access to the particular downloadable videocontent.

Once the user-generated video and associated metadata has gone throughthe approval process within the remote approval application 40, theschedule publication server 122 may publish the approved video contentonto the broadcast network 46. Alternatively, the remote approvalapplication 40 may communicate with the control centre application'sschedule publication server 109 to facilitate the publication of theapproved video content onto the broadcast network 46 at a designatedpoint in time. The video server 123 will also register with the videoserver 111.

The remote approval application's news banner server 124 will use aspecific graphic, again stored locally on a user's tablet 25 in thegraphic layer agent 129, to superimpose ticker tape news banners ontovideos. These ticker tape news banners may run text and graphic(s)metadata received directly from the remote approval application 40 of adesignated authorised user. The user-generated video content, associatedmetadata and accompanying image(s) get synced in the remote approvalapplication 40 via the sync processing module 125 to create a final highquality video ready for publication onto the broadcast network 46.

The second application 52 contains its own multi-layer media viewingplayer 126. This media player 126 houses the metadata content layers,recreate effects player, transparency levels and synchronicity systemsthat allows it to perform and display the pre-mentioned effectscorrectly. A metadata agent 127 performs the actions instructed by thecontrol centre application's metadata approval processing server 107and/or the remote approval application's metadata approval processingserver 120, for example, the overlaying of text over a specific graphic.The video agent 128 contained within the tablet's second application 52plays the video of choice and registers with the control centre's videoserver 111 and/or the remote approval application's video server 123,and the individual profile server 115 that the particular end-user hasviewed the video, thus creating a unique individual user digitalhistory.

The graphic layer agent 129 registers with the control centre's graphiclayer server 110 which graphic(s) are to be displayed on the end-user'svideo as overlays. The second application 52 then displays the specifiedhigh quality graphic(s)/effects that have been approved to run with thatindividual video by the control centre application 48 and/or the remoteapproval application 40 of a designated authorised user. Thesync-processing 130 syncs the approved video, associated metadata andspecified effects as approved by the control centre application 48and/or the remote approval application 40 of a designated authoriseduser to enable the multi-layer media viewing player 126 to display theseas though they where a single video. The news banners agent 131 receivesregular metadata feeds from the control centre news banner server 112and/or from a remote approval application's news banner server 124,which can be updated periodically, for example, daily, hourly or by theminute.

The picture/image agent 132 contained within the tablet's secondapplication 52 registers with the control centre's picture/image searchlayer server 113, which pictures need to be downloaded along with theassociated video being played. The image file is then downloaded andinserted into the designated x-y co-ordinate of the chosen full frameresolution template with little or no rendering required.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative methodology for uploading a video withthe accompanying metadata identifying the choice of high quality graphiceffects and text that is to be applied to the video. This process isillustrated as a collection of blocks in a logical flow graph, whichrepresents a sequence of operations that can be implemented in the firstapplication 31 installed on the tablet 15. The blocks representcomputerised instructions executed by the application based on theuser's actions. The workflow is illustrative of the process performed bythe first application 31. Before the user can upload the video to thecontrol centre, step 209, with the accompanying graphic(s) and metadata,the user must choose a pre-existing video or create a new video, steps201 and 202; write the metadata to be displayed with and/or to bedisplayed on the video using the metadata content agents, step 203. Thenchoose/create the specified effects graphic(s)/effects if required,steps 204 and 205, and then sync, via the sync-processing, step 206. Thefirst applications's sync processing module 103 communicates with thecontrol centre's sync processing module 117 to enable metadata to besynced to the control centre's metadata approval processing server 107,graphic layer server 110 and video server 111 on uploading.

The sync process created on the first application 31 installed on thetablet 15 will isolate the chosen specific video with the user'sselected specified effects graphic(s), text, special effects andmetadata. When uploaded to the control centre it will register and syncthat data, for example, the graphics and effect(s) created and the textmetadata content added. Once published/broadcast on download thespecified effects and specific graphic(s) within the second application52 will recreate the specified effect locally on that individual deviceand can pull up a picture that was used and insert that same content andbroadcast the same video broadcast on every tablet 25, other than whenan individual has specific needs, such as the text needing to bedisplayed in a different language. Again specified effects are notdownloaded with the video but are re-created on each tablet 25 upon theinitial download of the application. However, there will be new graphics(e.g. logo, branded graphics), pictures and effects projects created bythe control centre which will be made available instantly, or downloadedperiodically, automatically or on request.

The user will either capture a video clip using his tablet's camera orwill choose a pre-existing video clip from the native application'svideo library, step 202. The user will type in specific data about whatis being filmed, step 203 (e.g. “Damian Purcell, CTO of SecureBroadcast. Talks today about a particular topic”). This data isautomatically inserted within the parameter of a specified effect orspecific chosen graphic, step 204. Here the user will create a specifiedeffect or choose a project effect add text, fade in or out transformcrop etc, once approved and viewed by end user the user will onlydownload the video data and the control data will recreate as in clonewhat was created by the originator of the video content. The originatormay choose from a database of custom-made graphics stored on the tabletdatabase, which has the meta sync agents and servers that attach thegraphic and text to that particular video; they also have the automatedresizing and parameter controls that sits the text neatly within thegraphic.

The user may not wish to choose a graphic; in this instance the videowill be synced with the metadata only, step 206. There is mandatorymetadata that the user may input in order to upload a video. Thismetadata is also used within the search functionality. This metadata maynot be visible to the end user but will form the information/datacontent that aids in the search-ability of the video within the searchengine. The user may alternatively choose a specific graphic to go witha particular video, step 205, this would then be synced with the videoand associated metadata, step 206.

The video will then be uploaded to the control centre, step 209. Theuser has the option, step 207, to upload the video immediately to thecontrol centre, step 209, or to save it locally on their tablet toupload at a later stage, step 208. This option will be useful where theupload speed might be greater at different IP addresses/intranetlocations etc.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative methodology for implementing the layeringof specified effects onto downloaded video content by a media player inthe second application 52. This process is illustrated as a collectionof blocks in a logical flow graph, which represents a sequence ofoperations that can be implemented in the second application 52installed on the tablet 25. The blocks represent computerisedinstructions executed by the application based on the user's actions.The workflow is illustrative of the process performed by the secondapplication 52. The media player within the second application 52 islaunched, step 301, and then receives the video data and the associatedcontrol data, step 302. The multi-layer media player interprets thecontrol data, step 303, and recreates, builds and assembles thespecified effects and graphics locally for overlay onto the video data,step 304. The media player syncs the video data, control data andspecified effects, additional graphics and effects, step 305. The mediaplayer then begins playback of the video data, step 305, and overlaysthe specified effects and any additional as layers on top or behind thevideo in accordance with the insertion points specified within thecontrol data, giving the appearance of a single video file, step 307.

An example of how the layering of specified graphics and effects isachieved is illustrated in FIG. 7, whereby Layer 1 is to be appliedduring the time interval from t(1) to t(n+1), where t(n+1) is the end ofthe video. Layer 2 is to be applied during the time interval t(2) tot(4); Layer 3 is to be applied during the time interval t(3) to t(4),and so on, until the last later, Layer n, is applied between t(n) andt(n+1). There may be a plurality of layers applied at any one point intime, for example, at time interval t(3) Layer 1, Layer 2 and Layer 3shall each be applied to the video concurrently.

FIG. 8 depicts an example of the layering of specified effects ontodownloaded video content which may be produced by the media player 126in the second application 52. Each object within a layer (e.g. colourblock, text, image, graphic etc.) may be animated independently of eachother. Furthermore, every attribute of every layer is also animatable(opacity, location, colour, position in 3D space etc.), such that theremay be any number of animations applied to each layer.

Each video to be broadcast will be stored within the broadcast network46 in multiple resolutions. The broadcast network monitors the networkbandwidth of an end user's tablet and, depending on this bandwidth, themost suitable video resolution (i.e. the resolution that will enable thefastest download) shall be broadcast to the end user's tablet forviewing, transcoding and delivery 114 is created within the controlcentre application, the second application via the media player 126 willdetermine resolution download.

Traditionally, when multiple videos are to be broadcast they are editedin such a way that they flow from for example, an opening title, thevideo, captions during video play, end titles, a commercial or sting,another opening title effect, then another video, end titles effects,etc. In an exemplary embodiment a system is provided whereby a user canselect one or more videos and place them in any particular order andassign them to a ‘seamless broadcast’ as graphically illustrated in FIG.12. A Video Scene Markup Language (VSML) is used to define specialeffects to be associated with the selected videos. The media player isconfigured to read the VSML elements and compose them into effects. Theeffects are played as the video is being played. The effects and videosare displayed on the user device to give the appearance of a broadcast.

In an exemplary arrangement, the control data includes machine readablemarkup language that represents video data elements in a textual formatthat the media player can interpret and compose at playback. The videodata elements that are described by VSML include but are not limited totextured blocks, text, images, downloadable video assets, streamingvideo assets and other graphical elements that are combined to providemotion graphic layers. VSML describes these elements in a JSON format,which represents the video on the server side. At playback, the mediaplayer on the second device does not display the textual descriptionsbut rather uses them to interpret the manner in which they should beplayed back as a video package. In one example, non-streaming videolayer assets are cached locally in high definition so that the streamingcontent of a video is separated from the other reusable content tocreate HD motion graphics layers. Some of the look and feel of these HDmotion graphic layers is dictated by control data that is received fromthe server side at start time. This control or meta data influencesaspects of the HD motion graphic layers. However the presentation ofthese HD motion graphic layers is primarily controlled by the VideoScene Markup Language (VSML), which can be modified on the fly fromeither the local media player or a remote administrator. The VSMLcontrols the positioning, timing, styling and animation of the specificHD Motion Graphics layer.

VSML consists of a JSON representation of a video project, which isseparated into segments, layers and elements. Elements are the buildingblock of the video document. The following is an example of a singlevideo stream with an image watermark overlay in the top left corner ofscreen that starts at time 3 and animates out at after 10 seconds:

{ “duration”: 120, “segments”: [ { “layers”: [ { “layerType”: “generic”,“elements”: [ { “type”: “video”, “url”: “sbtv-assets:///275” }, {“frame”: { “w”: 300,“h”: 100,“y”: 0,“x”: 0 }, “beginTime”: 3,“duration”: 10, “type”: “image”, “url”: “http://path/to/image/url” } ] }] } ] }

In this way, video segments, layers or elements can be re-used or nestedwithin other video segments, layers or elements and this converts avideo into a flexible document that can be manipulated in real time.

Typically, the effects are interleaved between the multiple videos.However if a video is downloading/streaming under low bandwidthconditions there will be increased video buffering required and thebandwidth speed will dictate when the video will be played. Video thatdisplays buffering is not considered seamless or an uninterruptedbroadcast. The media player and control data allows for the delivery ofa High Definition content which is recreated using instructions via VSMLlocally and graphically displayed at the fraction ( 1/1000 or more) ofthe bandwidth compared to an equivalent video version. By virtue of thefact that the media player and control data are not dependent on a largebandwidth allows meta segments (control data that creates motiongraphics/specified effects without video) instructed via (VSML) to beplaced between each of the selected video segments (control data thatcreates motion graphics/specified effects with video). The selectedvideo segments which contain their own control data can talk to each ofthese sets of meta segments and place their own data within them, knownas Pre-Video Play-Data (PVPD) for example: “Coming Up Next” metasegment, the new video will have its metadata (control data) and the“Coming Up Next” will gather that information and display it visually onscreen prior to the video being played or ready to be played due to abuffering delay. It is also noted that each of these videos themselveswill have motion graphics applied via VSML in a real-time layeredcomposited fashion, for instance an opening title, captions during thevideo and after and a bumper (end title).

If a video displays that it is buffering and users are waiting whilstnothing else is happening besides waiting for the buffering to finishand the video to play, then this is not a seamless broadcast. Thedownloading of the video data to the smart device often causes the videoto stutter or stop playback where the rate of playback has exceeded therate at which the video is being downloaded. This diminishes the visualexperience for the user and is therefore undesirable. The presentteaching allows for seamless uninterrupted broadcasting which overcomesthe visual appearance of a time delay while the video is beingloaded/buffered. The media player recreates meta segments via VSMLinstruction (control data) which applies motion graphics, text, effectsanimation, that are recreated in the media player locally via metadata,they do not require significant bandwidth and rely on control data torecreate specified effects in a real-time layered composited fashion(motion graphics) within the player locally for any length of time.

The prior playing meta segment (e.g Opener 801) reads the bufferingrequired for the next video 802 to play, the media player 126 isconfigured using an algorithm to read the speed of the internet, thesize of the video and any assets and the time it takes to stream thevideo without further buffering delays. As the sets of meta segments arelargely independent from bandwidth limitations the algorithm providesdata to the media player to slow down these motion graphic setsproportionate to the requirements for seamless broadcasting. In essencethe meta segment will slow all of its movement, graphics, text assetsetc, motion until the video which comes on after its buffered enough forcontinuous play. In the situation where the video needs more bufferingdue to a drop in internet speed or a internet disconnection the mediaplayers local default screen will appear as it tries to reconnect.

The following algorithm may be used when applying buffer time to metasegments. If the time required to buffer the video=T, and the durationof a meta segment=D, the following if, then else statement may be usedto set a dynamic duration, DT on the meta segment:

If T>D: Then DT=T Else DT=D

Video data is typically encoded at a bitrate and a fixed frequency offrames, e.g. 1 Mbps at 30 frames per second. With adaptive streaming,there are multiple bitrates available for different network throughputconditions. As illustrated in FIG. 10, each video stream requires aclient buffer so that temporary drops in received data rate can besmoothed out. Drops in the fill rate occur due to TCP congestioncontrol. Experimental results have shown a buffer size of 5 seconds istypically chosen. The time it takes to fill the client buffer can becomputed from the following metrics:

α=Throughput of link,—measured in advanceβ=Size of uncached assets,—known in advanceγ=Time to set up TCP connection,—approximated to 500 ms (actually 1.5Round Trip Time)δ=Buffer size,—using best practices (typically 3-10 s of video)

ε=Initial Video Bitrate,

The following formula can be used to determine the buffering time for avideo:

$T = {\gamma + \frac{\beta}{\alpha} + \frac{\left( {ɛ*\delta} \right)}{\alpha}}$

Example:

With a 2 Mbits/s throughput, it would be:

-   -   Initial bitrate of a H264 video file is 1.58 Mbit/s (which will        work for the entire connection since its 2 Mbit/s link—i.e. no        need to reduce bitrate quality with adaptive streaming)    -   Throughput of a network connection is measured and found to be 2        Mbit/sec.    -   Size of 5 uncached image assets (30 KB each) is known to be 150        KB need to convert to MegaBits 1 MB=1048576 bytes        (=1024^(MBits))    -   Therefore 150 KB=150*8 Kilobits=1200/1024 MBits=1.17 Mbits    -   Time to set up TCP connection approximated to 500 ms—you can't        measure this, but it will be in range 100 ms-800 ms.    -   Buffer size using a 4 seconds of video (the buffer length is        arbitrary and needs to be large enough to handle TCP congestion        jitter)=4*1.58 Mbit/s=6.32 Mbits.    -   Using the formula above, with a 2 Mbits/s throughput, the time        for buffering would be:

T=0.5 s+(1.17 MBits/2 Mbits/s)+(6.32 Mbits/2 Mbits/s)=4.245 seconds

-   -   With a 1 Mbits/s throughput, it would be:

T=0.5 s+(1.17 MBits/1 Mbits/s)+(6.32 Mbits/1 Mbits/s)=7.99 seconds

-   -   With a higher bitrate (e.g. HD 1080p video at 4.5 Mbits/s) with        a 1 Mbit/s link:

T=0.5 s+(1.17 MBits/1 Mbits/s)+(18 Mbits/1 Mbits/s)=19.67 seconds

-   -   With a 10 Mbits/s throughput, it would be:

T=0.5 s+(1.17 MBits/10 Mbits/s)+(6.32 Mbits/10 Mbits/s)=1.249 seconds

-   -   With a higher bitrate (e.g. HD 1080p video at 4.5 Mbits/s) with        a 10 Mbit/s link:

T=0.5 s+(1.17 MBits/10 Mbits/s)+(18 Mbits/10 Mbits/s)=2.417 seconds.

If buffering time<(less than or equal to) normal eg. Opener duration,then bumper duration remains the same.If buffering time>(Greater than) normal bumper duration, the eg. Openerduration is set to buffering time.

Spread Buffer Time (SBT)

If there is more than one set of specified effects (meta segments) asdescribed by the term Opener, Bumper or Sting than the calculated BufferTime may be spread evenly throughout each set. Under this circumstancethen spreading out the buffering time amongst separate meta segments.Where generic sets of specified effects (Motion Graphic) are classed asmeta segments:

O=Opener

B=Bumper

S=Sting

In the case where we have more video segments contained in a singlevideo package, where there is an Opener before the video segment, thebuffering time for the video package can be spread out over thedifferent segments. Each set of meta segment that plays after theinitial Opening meta segment may comprise of at least one of a graphic,text data, a special effect, local based assets and will operate under ashared buffering time SBT for the next video to be played, whether itsan “Opener” for a video, a “Bumper” which plays after the video, or a“Sting” (eg Commercial) played between an opener and bumper. Thealgorithm will be modified in the following way.

To calculate SBT and the T value for each segment and to apply theshared times the equation in this case would be:

${T\; 1} = {\gamma + \frac{\beta}{\alpha} + \frac{\left( {ɛ*\delta} \right)}{\alpha}}$

for the initial bumper,

${TN} = {\gamma + \frac{\left( {ɛ*\delta} \right)}{\alpha}}$

for all other bumpers. Where N (number) used for that segment.

Example:

Assume a video packaged which contains two videos encoded at the samebitrate of 1.58 Mbit/s. Throughput is 2 Mbit/sec. In the first videosegment, there are 2 assets of size 0.595 Mbits and in the second videosegment, there are 2 assets of size 0.595 Mbits. Time to set up TCPconnection=0.5 s. Buffer size using a 4 seconds of =4*1.58 Mbit/s=6.32Mbits. Using the formula above, the time for buffering would be:

T1=0.5 s+(0.596 MBits/2 Mbits/s)+(6.32 Mbits/2 Mbits/s)=3.9575 seconds

T2=0.5s+(0.595 MBits/2 Mbits/s)=0.7975

If buffering time<normal bumper, sting and opener duration, then bumper,sting and opener duration remains the same. If buffering time>normalbumper, sting and opener duration, the bumper, sting and opener durationis set to buffering time as calculated via SBT.

It will be appreciated that variation to calculate buffering times maybe used. In an exemplary arrangement, a continuous seamless broadcastmay be provided using looping or multiple effects. The media playerwaits for the next video to be approved but in the mean time runscontinuous motion graphics and indicates, there are no more videos to beplayed and as soon as one is authorised it will broadcast it in a manneras previously described.

An exemplary seamless broadcast method is illustrated in FIG. 11A. Auser selects a number of videos using a client device for broadcastingover the network using the broadcast system 10 of FIG. 1, these videoshave been approved and authorised within the system, block 701. Eachvideo will automatically have Meta segments as described as Opener 801,Bumper 803 or Sting 804 placed before or after the video segment 802,806, the video segment itself will have motion graphics as described byVSML.

The media player on the second smart device 25, reads the control dataas described in VSML which interprets the manner in which effects, text,animation etc should be played back as a video package (meta and videosegments as illustrated in FIG. 12), block 702. Other, control data suchas which channel and user groups are also processed. The seamlessbroadcast project will normally begin with an Initial Opener (metasegment) as buffering begins and other assets are being downloaded andprocessed, block 703. The initial opener (meta segment) may havefields—Pre-Video Play-Data (PVPD) that can be filled by the videosegments control data, even prior to it being streamed, or beforebuffering commences. It may be as simple but not limited to a title anddescription of the next video segment, in essence the control data ofthe video segment is used by the meta segment proceeding it and thatdata enters the meta segment and is used and played with all parameterinfluences based within the meta panel as built with VSML, block 704.

At block 705 a process is initiated where the PVPD is inserted into theavailable fields within the meta segment. At block 706 the bufferingtime T is calculated using the algorithm as described above. At block707 the media player determines if T is greater than the meta segmentsnormal play duration. If this is the case the media player runs the metasegment equal to T, block 709. If T is less than the meta segmentsnormal play duration, block 708, then the meta segment plays at normalplay duration. By this stage the video segment has buffered enough toplay in a continuous state of play, block 710. The video segment thatplays may also have its own motion graphics as described within VSML.Referring now to FIG. 11B which is a continuation of the flowchart ofFIG. 10A. At block 711 the media Player gathers all other control datafor all video segments to calculate the shared buffer time (SBT)calculation as described above. The SBT calculated durations are appliedto all other meta segments within this single seamless broadcast, block712. At block 713 the next video to be played is queried. At block 714it is determined whether PVPD 714 is required, if so then, at block 715the media player inserts this data. The calculated SBT buffer time,block 716, applies its value and if it is found to be greater than themeta segments normal playing duration, block 717, its duration ischanged to equal the calculated SBT duration 719, or is otherwise playedat normal duration 718 if it is not greater than. At block 720 the videosegment has buffered enough to play in a continuous state of play. Thevideo segment that plays may have its own motion graphics as withinVSML. At block 721, if this is the last video in the playlist then theseamless broadcast will end if not the loops from block 713 until thefinal video is reached.

Referring now to FIG. 12 there is provided a graphical representationillustrating the placement of meta segments in relation to videosegments. Meta segment 801 is the Initial Opener and has the value ofbuffering time calculated as T, this allows time for SBT calculation tobe made and processed. Video 802 is a video segment which would be avideo that has been authorised and has its own motion graphics that isread by the media player and is recreated locally on a second device asdescribed by VSML. Meta segment 803 immediately plays after a videosegment 802, it could simply be an end title, credits etc. Meta segment804 acts as an informative display, or commercial like display, or thecompany logo animated in some way etc. Meta segment 805 plays prior tothe next video segment and will relate to that particular video segmentvia PVPD such as providing a title, description and thumbnail of thevideo segment that will play next. Video segment 806 is next to beplayed in the seamless broadcast. The video segment 806 may also haveits own motion graphics as described within VSML. The T value 807 is theduration at which meta segment 801 is influenced by the buffering time Tas described in the buffering algorithm to determine the value of T. TheSBT value 808 is the duration at which all other meta segments factor inthere play duration as influenced by the buffering time SBT as describedin the buffering algorithm to determine the value of SBT.

Referring now to FIG. 13 there is illustrated an exemplary broadcastsystem which facilitates live stream edit decisions using a cloudapplication programming interface (API). In this example, three smartdevices, namely, tablet A, tablet B and tablet C upload video andcontrol data to a cloud server. The live broadcast Application (LB A) isa thin client program which applies the necessary functions to edit andapply VSML effects to a cloud server API as its being broadcast to theend user 505. The LBA allows for the use of multiple mobile smartdevices to be connected from any location, example different countriesor used in one location for example smart device camera set-up with amedium, close and wide angle shooting arrangement. Using the thin clientprogram LBA which works in combination with the cloud server API, itallows Secure Broadcasts application to apply VSML effects as real-timelayered compositing to achieve a live version of this in the context ofan edited multi stream feed from different devices into a single layerededited broadcast which provides the necessary control and video datathat adds and recreates the layers and specified effects locally onevery device authorised to view it. This is achieved with two versionsof LBA: remote directing on a cloud based editing live broadcast, withreal-time motion graphics. Local based directing and live broadcast withreal-time motion graphics.

The mechanism for both ways are the very similar however, the firstversion is done as it is being uploaded via the Internet. The secondversion occurs by uploading from the local ad hoc (or intranet) networkprior to uploading to the Cloud Network API.

At step 501, smart device A, smart device B and smart device C, each ofthese devices are filming from a different angle of say a lecture forexample that is to be broadcast live with applied VSML effects to endusers of the platform. Each smart device A, B and C and any additionalfeeds are uploading a video stream and control data as it is being seenby the thin client Live Broadcast Application (LBA) 504 on its way tothe end user 505. Another user would be directing the edits andauthorising or adding layers using the (LBA) whether by a computerterminal or Smart device 504, a edit decision is made between smartdevice A, B, C by choosing which shooting angle from either smart deviceA, B or C at a particular moment gets chosen to be broadcast to thefinal user. The VSML applied effects are either added by the device 504as it happens, and/or set up prior to broadcasts commencing by creatingthe live broadcast project or if an individual has added their own VSMLapplied effects from either uploading smart device 501.

In the example of FIG. 13, the smart device footage from A, B, C will beuploaded via the internet to Cloud server 503 and seen by the (LBA) 504which accesses the cloud server 503. The director/authoriser of thebroadcast who could be anywhere in the world, will choose which feed tobroadcast as it happens, (there will be no download from director tomake edit decisions and no upload from the director for final broadcast)due to the nature of being a thin client it will be a choice of which ofthe uploading live feeds gets chosen for final broadcast as it happensand what VSML applied effects are added.

In the example of FIG. 14 the broadcast system provides local-liveediting with real-time live stream layering where local based editingand the application of specified VSML applied effects occur usingreal-time layered compositing multilayer player, the Smart Device A,B,C510, the upload feeds, along with any control data that has been addedfrom the device level, will be uploaded via the intranet (or ad hocnetwork) locally to local server 511 and seen by the Local LiveBroadcast Application (LLBA) 512, the director of the broadcast whowould be in the locality of the event and under the same local ad hoc(or intranet) network and will choose which feed to broadcast as ithappens, it will be a choice of which of the uploading feeds get chosenfor final broadcast as it happens and what specified VSML appliedeffects are applied using our real-time layered compositing multi-layercomposites. The edit decision and VSML effects 512 will only beuploading one feed of video data and control data for broadcasting tothe cloud network server 513.

Referring now to FIG. 15 which illustrates a broadcast system where bymultiple users with different operating systems (IOS, ANDROID, .NET etc)can add their captured footage and send it into a project that has notbeen submitted for approval yet, users could be sending footage fromanywhere in the world, it allows another users to use that footage tocreate a broadcast.

The users can use their phone (cross platform) to record footage andsend it to their tablet/or/a specific users Tablet/or to their Tablet.They can then login edit away as normal. The video broadcast system cancreate a open project where any authorised user 601 using any popularoperating system whether a phone or tablet can submit footage they haveon their smart device/phone to the Project administrators smart device604 for the purpose of gathering footage to be used as a singlebroadcast with VSML applied effects created by Real-Time layeredcompositing multi-layer player. The video project would have a requiredbrief listing the shots and locations clearly stated/needed to fulfillthe video brief, or any other multimedia content (picture, Graphic etc)Example, a Mountain, or a building, interview, picture, logo etc. A user601 would see this project and accept to capture one or more from thelist in whatever location they are in. Once captured the authorised user601 would submit the footage/asset to the project repository 602 in thecloud server API 603. The footage would then be downloaded to theadministrators open project within their smart device 604. Once allfootage has been gathered the Open project status, becomes closed andthe administrator can finish the video project and apply the necessaryVSML applied effects. The Administrator would then once completed submitthe project to the command centre 605 for approval as previouslydescribed, via the cloud server API 603, where on approval would beavailable to all authorised end users 606. This solves two major issues:

1: not everyone needs a tablet to capture footage2: Cross platform compatibility.

The advantages of this teaching are many. The footage may come fromanywhere with various filming angles of the same event/project briefcoming to a central point (tablet) from any location. Project basedcapture, can make part of the phone UI having the ability to select apredetermined video brief, the shots and locations clearly stated/neededto fulfill the video brief, and when the individual clicks into thatproject any video they capture and submit will load into that project(BIN) and can then be used to create that video.

Referring now to FIG. 16, a dual presentation system is described. Asthe network is based on control data the technology allows for thecontrol data (metadata) to be shown in useful ways. Using the tabletusers can create a slide/multimedia presentation. The system allows forthe information to be presented in two ways.

1. Presenter Mode 2. Viewer Mode

When giving a presentation to an audience the presenter within theplatform using the tablet would present his/her presentation in thePresenter mode. The viewers who have their own tablet within theplatform could select the viewer mode. This will present affiliatedinformation that is associated with each particular slide, additionalinformation. The affiliated information would be a combination of theexisting control data but is also will provide ways that each user caninput information themselves which becomes part of the existing metadatafor the system, it could be as simple as notes of the slide, comments,ideas etc. Each comment, remark made will then be available for all tosee instantly. When under the presenter mode the viewer mode becomes theslave of the presenter mode, when the presenter moves onto a new slidethe viewer mode moves also.

At block 901, an authorised user wishing to create a presentation wouldopen a Dual presentation project. Which allows them to create twobranches of the slides it will either be a presenter slide or a Viewerslide. At block 902 user selects which assets to use for thepresentation under Presenter Mode. At block 903 user has access tocontrol data fields, that will be used to create slides as seen withinviewer mode. At block 904 user begins the process of creating presentercontent slides 906, each new slide automatically creates a dual slide asseen in viewer mode. At block 905 user begins the process of creatingviewer content slides 907, the user will input meta data for everypresenter slide created both the presenter slide and the viewer slideare now linked. This data will be displayed by the media player asdescribed by VSML to display this data in interesting ways. Example acomments feed that a viewer can share notes to all viewing in real time,it could be additional descriptions of the content displayed by thepresenter slides, additional resources or links to other videos andcontent within/or out side the the Secure Broadcast network.

At block 908, presenter mode is the display given by the presenter totheir audience, it will show what has been created by each slide,whether a video, picture, graphics etc all run by the media player underinstruction as described by VSML. The presenter mode is linked to thecorresponding viewer slide. If the presenter move to the next presenterslide the view mode will automatically move to the corresponding viewerslide.

At block 909 user who are watching the presentation can choose whichmode to view the presentation if in Presenter mode will see as presentedby presenter, if in viewer mode the linked viewer slides will be seen ascreated within the viewer slides 907. The media player would inreal-time create the real-time layered composites as has been previouslyclaimed by the methods also described in VSML. There are features whichallow a user to finish their comments etc. and still remain in sync withthe presenter slide numbers. The ability to write on the VSML appliedeffects and that input data can be used as a method to communicate thatwriting content to other authorised users. The ability for that writtencontent to be used as a search parameter. The ability to add markersalong a video where users can jump to different marker points along avideo stream and start watching it from the point onwards.

Referring now to FIG. 17 which is an exemplary screen shot 1000 of thevisual display unit of the tablet 25 of FIG. 1. The screen shot is avisual representation of the output from the media player 126. It willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that video data is capturedon the first device 15. Control data (markup-language) is associatedwith the video data on the first device 15 by a user of the firstdevice. The control data contains information for creating auxiliarydata, in this case, a background template. The video data and controldata are broadcast to one or more second devices 25 across the network30. The media player 126 on the respective second devices 25 is operablein response to reading the control data to create the backgroundtemplate 1005 locally on the respective second devices. The backgroundtemplate 1005 and the video data 1010 give the appearance of a singleintegrated entity when displayed on the second device 25. The backgroundtemplate 1005 includes an area where the downloaded video stream 1010 isinserted. The streamed video data 1010 in this example is an insert of aperson. The background template 1005 is created locally on the tablet 25as result of the media player 126 translating the markup language into avisual representation. The template 1005 occupies the majority of thevisual display unit while the video data 1010 occupies only a relativelysmall portion of the visual display unit. The template 1005 is generatedlocally to have high definition (HD) resolution. The resolution of thevideo data 1010 is standard definition (SD). However, since the videodata 1010 only occupies a very small area of the overall screen theoverall visual impression is that the output from the media player 126is of a high definition quality.

It will be understood that what has been described herein is anexemplary system for distributing video content. While the presentteaching has been described with reference to exemplary arrangements itwill be understood that it is not intended to limit the teaching to sucharrangements as modifications can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present teaching.

It will be understood that while exemplary features of a distributednetwork system in accordance with the present teaching have beendescribed that such an arrangement is not to be construed as limitingthe invention to such features. The method of the present teaching maybe implemented in software, firmware, hardware, or a combinationthereof. In one mode, the method is implemented in software, as anexecutable program, and is executed by one or more special or generalpurpose digital computer(s), such as a personal computer (PC;IBM-compatible, Apple-compatible, or otherwise), personal digitalassistant, workstation, minicomputer, or mainframe computer. The stepsof the method may be implemented by a server or computer in which thesoftware modules reside or partially reside.

Generally, in terms of hardware architecture, such a computer willinclude, as will be well understood by the person skilled in the art, aprocessor, memory, and one or more input and/or output (I/O) devices (orperipherals) that are communicatively coupled via a local interface. Thelocal interface can be, for example, but not limited to, one or morebuses or other wired or wireless connections, as is known in the art.The local interface may have additional elements, such as controllers,buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, to enablecommunications. Further, the local interface may include address,control, and/or data connections to enable appropriate communicationsamong the other computer components.

The processor(s) may be programmed to perform the functions of thefirst, second, third and fourth modules as described above. Theprocessor(s) is a hardware device for executing software, particularlysoftware stored in memory. Processor(s) can be any custom made orcommercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), anauxiliary processor among several processors associated with a computer,a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chipset), a macroprocessor, or generally any device for executing softwareinstructions.

Memory is associated with processor(s) and can include any one or acombination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory(RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc.)) and nonvolatile memory elements(e.g., ROM, hard drive, tape, CDROM, etc.). Moreover, memory mayincorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storagemedia. Memory can have a distributed architecture where variouscomponents are situated remote from one another, but are still accessedby processor(s).

The software in memory may include one or more separate programs. Theseparate programs comprise ordered listings of executable instructionsfor implementing logical functions in order to implement the functionsof the modules. In the example of heretofore described, the software inmemory includes the one or more components of the method and isexecutable on a suitable operating system (O/S).

The present teaching may include components provided as a sourceprogram, executable program (object code), script, or any other entitycomprising a set of instructions to be performed. When a source program,the program needs to be translated via a compiler, assembler,interpreter, or the like, which may or may not be included within thememory, so as to operate properly in connection with the O/S.Furthermore, a methodology implemented according to the teaching may beexpressed as (a) an object oriented programming language, which hasclasses of data and methods, or (b) a procedural programming language,which has routines, subroutines, and/or functions, for example but notlimited to, C, C++, Pascal, Basic, Fortran, Cobol, Perl, Java, Json andAda.

When the method is implemented in software, it should be noted that suchsoftware can be stored on any computer readable medium for use by or inconnection with any computer related system or method. In the context ofthis teaching, a computer readable medium is an electronic, magnetic,optical, or other physical device or means that can contain or store acomputer program for use by or in connection with a computer relatedsystem or method. Such an arrangement can be embodied in anycomputer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system,processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch process theinstructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or deviceand execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a“computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate,propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with theinstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computerreadable medium can be for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, device, or propagation medium. Any process descriptions orblocks in the Figures, should be understood as representing modules,segments, or portions of code which include one or more executableinstructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in theprocess, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in theart.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of thepresent teaching, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, arepossible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clearunderstanding of the principles. Many variations and modifications maybe made to the above-described embodiment(s) without substantiallydeparting from the spirit and principles of the present teaching. Allsuch modifications are intended to be included herein within the scopeof this disclosure and the present invention and protected by thefollowing claims.

The advantages of the present teaching are many. The current methodmaintains high quality graphics, text and special effects resolution atall times, whereas the quality of existing video broadcast system'sgraphics, text and special effects resolution is variable in directcorrelation to the size of the data being broadcast, with a lower datasize reducing the quality of the graphics, text and special effectsresolution. However, a reduction of the data size in the current methodwill reduce the video data's resolution only without reducing at thesame time the quality of the graphics, text and special effects, thesebeing created or stored locally on a user's smart device in a highresolution.

As the current method stores and transmits only the video data andcontrol data, and then applies graphics, text and special effects from alocally stored database on a user's smart device, the data size fortransmission and the resulting upload/download speeds under varyingnetwork/internet speeds is improved in comparison to existing videobroadcast systems. Existing video broadcast systems wanting equivalentgraphic, text and special effects will require storing and transmittinga larger rendered single flattened video structure containing thegraphics, text and special effects, thus taking a greater time forupload/download and a larger data size for transmission. The currentmethod can reduce the overall size for storage and transmission byreducing only the video data size without effecting the graphics, textand special effects; however existing video broadcast systems must, inorder to maintain high quality graphics, text and special effects,maintain a larger file size for storage and transmission to equal thegraphics, text and special effects applied to the video data using thecurrent method.

The costs associated with viewing the content, in both monetary termsand man hours, using the current method is improved in comparison withthat of the methods employed in existing video broadcast systems. Asonly the video data and control data are being stored and transmittedthrough the network in the current method, the speed and costs ofproducing and broadcasting video with high quality graphics, text andspecial effects is minimized in comparison with the traditional methodsemployed in existing video broadcast systems. The traditional methodsrequire a significantly larger data size in order to maintain comparablehigh quality graphics, text and special effects, thereby increasing thecosts associated with transmission, storage and viewing.

It will be appreciated that the control data may comprise a plurality ofcontrol parameters which represent corresponding effects. One or more ofthe control pararmeters may be selectable on the first device. Theselected one or more control parameters on the first device may beassociated with the video data such that the one or more controlparameters may be applied by the media player as it is being played onthe respective second devices.

While the present teaching has been described with reference toexemplary applications and modules it will be understood that it is notintended to limit the teaching of the present teaching to sucharrangements as modifications can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated thatthe system may be implemented using cloud or local server architecture.In this way it will be understood that the present teaching is to belimited only insofar as is deemed necessary in the light of the appendedclaims.

Similarly the words comprises/comprising when used in the specificationare used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps orcomponents but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreadditional features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

1. A method for distributing video content across a network; the methodcomprising: providing video data on a first device, associating controldata with the video data on the first device; wherein the control datacontains information for creating auxiliary data, broadcasting the videodata and control data to one or more second devices across the network,providing a media player on the respective second devices which isoperable in response to reading the control data to create the auxiliarydata locally on the respective second devices, and launching theauxiliary data while the media player is playing the video data; whereinthe resolution of the displayed video data is dependent on availablenetwork bandwidth of the respective second devices while the resolutionof the auxiliary data is independent of the available network bandwidthas it is recreated post broadcasting on the respective second devicessuch that the displayed video data and the auxiliary data have differentresolutions.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media playerperforms a calculation to determine buffering time required for thevideo data to be downloaded to the respective second devices.
 3. Amethod as claimed in claim 2, wherein the period for displaying two ormore display segments are varied in response to the calculated bufferingtime.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media player on therespective second devices is operable in response to reading the controldata to initiate a fetch process for retrieving data from a local orremote location.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein a firstdatabase is provided on the first device for storing the control data.6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a second database is providedon the respective second device for storing data elements which arereferenced in the control data.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the control data includes instructions for applying at least onespecified effect, a graphic, text data, a special effect, or audio datato the video data when the video data is being played on the mediaplayer on the respective second devices.
 8. A method as claimed in claim1, wherein a first user interface is provided on the first device forfacilitating a user selecting the control data to be associated with thevideo data.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control dataassociated with the video data is synchronised with the video data onthe first device.
 10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a datastructure is generated on the first device containing the video data andthe associated control data.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 10,wherein the first device is configured to transmit the data structure toa control centre.
 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein thecontrol centre is configured for communicating the data structure to theone or more second devices.
 13. A method as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe control centre is operable for modifying the control data associatedwith the video data.
 14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein thecontrol centre is operable to approve or disapprove the video data inadvance of broadcasting.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein aremote device is in communication with the control centre forfacilitating remote approval of the video data and associated controldata.
 16. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a template is providedon the first device for facilitating the placing of a video subjectwithin a template.
 17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein thetemplate contains a designated minimal resolution area where the videodata is to be inserted.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein thenetwork bandwidth of the respective second devices are monitored suchthat a video resolution is selected for broadcasting based upon theavailable network bandwidth.
 19. A system for distributing videocontent; the system comprising: a first device having video dataprovided thereon, a first application operable on the first device andbeing configured for associating control data with the video data,wherein the control data contains information for creating auxiliarydata which is to be presented with the video data subsequent to thevideo data being broadcast to one or more second devices across thenetwork; a control centre in communication with the first applicationfor receiving the video data and the associated control data from thefirst device, the control centre being operable to broadcast the videodata and the associated control data to one or more second devices, anda media player being provided on the respective second devices which isoperable in response to reading the control data to create the auxiliarydata on the respective second device; the media player being operable tolaunch the auxiliary data while the media player is playing the videodata, wherein the resolution of the displayed video data is dependent onavailable network bandwidth of the respective second devices while theresolution of the auxiliary data is independent of the available networkbandwidth as it is recreated post broadcasting on the respective seconddevices such that the displayed video data and the auxiliary data havedifferent resolutions due to network bandwidth.
 20. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium comprising a data carrier having encodedthereon machine readable instructions which, when executed in acomputerised system implements a method for distributing video contentacross a network; the method comprising: providing video data on a firstdevice, associating control data with the video data on the firstdevice; wherein the control data contains information for creatingauxiliary data, broadcasting the video data and control data to one ormore second devices across the network, providing a media player on therespective second devices which is operable in response to reading thecontrol data to create the auxiliary data locally on the respectivesecond devices, and launching the auxiliary data while the media playeris playing the video data; wherein the resolution of the displayed videodata is dependent on available network bandwidth of the respectivesecond devices while the resolution of the auxiliary data is independentof the available network bandwidth as it is recreated post broadcastingon the respective second devices such that the displayed video data andthe auxiliary data have different resolutions.
 21. A method fordistributing video content across a distributed network; the methodcomprising providing video data on a first device, associating controldata with the video data on the first device for specifying effects tobe applied to the video data subsequent to the video data beingbroadcast to one or more second devices across the network, providing amedia player on the respective second devices which is operable inresponse to reading the control data to fetch specified effects from alocal database on the respective second devices and apply the fetchedspecified effects as the video data is played by the media player,wherein the resolution of the displayed video data is dependent onavailable network bandwidth of the respective second devices while theresolution of the auxiliary data is independent of the available networkbandwidth as it is recreated post broadcasting on the respective seconddevices such that the displayed video data and the auxiliary data havedifferent resolutions.
 22. A system for distributing video content; thesystem comprising: a first device having video data provided thereon, afirst application operable on the first device and being configured forassociating control data with the video data, a control centre incommunication with the first application for receiving the video dataand the associated control data from the first device, the controlcentre being operable to broadcast the video data and the associatedcontrol data to one or more second devices, and a media player beingprovided on the respective second devices which is operable in responseto reading the control data to fetch specified effects from a localdatabase on the respective second devices and apply the fetchedspecified effects as the video data is played by the media player,wherein the resolution of the displayed video data is dependent onavailable network bandwidth of the respective second devices while theresolution of the auxiliary data is independent of the available networkbandwidth as it is recreated post broadcasting on the respective seconddevices such that the displayed video data and the auxiliary data havedifferent resolutions.